Monkshood is a tall plant up to 1m typically growing in damp soil or beside streams, producing heavily divided leaves and mid-blue flowers similar to those of a Delphinium. It is believed to be native in South West England and south Wales, but very local in distribution. It was indeed not recorded botanically until by Purton in 18211. .  Elsewhere it is likely to be a garden escape and may represent material of hybrid origin as a number of forms and sub-species are grown in gardens2..
 
Monkshood's common name comes from the hooded shape of the flower.  It is also known as wolfsbane and blue helmet.  It is extremely poisonous, fatal if ingested, and you should wash your hands after handling it. It is nonetheless a traditional cottage garden flower and has been grown for many centuries despite its poisonous qualities. In his Herbal of 1597 Gerard commented on its ‘very fair and goodly blew flowers, in shape like an helmet, which are so beautifull that a man woulde think they were of some excellent virtue, but non est semper fides habenda fronti’. (‘Faith is not always to be trusted’)3. .
 
This plant is very easy to grow in a garden border but demands a permanently damp soil and will not thrive in a dry situation.
 
Its deep tubular flowers are an important forage source for long-tongued bumblebees such as Bombus hortorum which in itself is a good reason to grow this plant. Unlike the closely related Delphinium it does not attract slugs and snails.
 
Only one beetle and two moths are recorded as feeding on this toxic plant, including the attractive golden plusia moth Polychrysia moneta which has colonised Britain since 1890 and is now found as far north as Scotland.
 
 
References
 
1. Pearman, D. (2017). The Discovery of the Native Flora of Britain and Ireland, Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. P83
 
2.  Stace, C. 2010.  New Flora of the British Isles, Third Edition. P. 105.
 
3. Gerard, J. 1597. The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes, as quoted in Grigson 1995 p32.
 
4.  See the Biological Record Centre database
 
 
Page written by Marc Carlton.  Compiled by Steve Head
Monkshood Aconitum napellus
 
Family – Ranunculaceae, Buttercup family
Herbaceous perennial – up to 1m tall c50cm spread
Flowering – May to September
Soils -  Neutral to alkaline, but must be damp
Position – Full sun or partial shade.
Monkshood Aconitum napellus
 
Family – Ranunculaceae, Buttercup family
Herbaceous perennial – up to 1m tall c50cm spread
Flowering – May to September
Soils -  Neutral to alkaline, but must be damp
Position – Full sun or partial shade.
Monkshood is a tall plant up to 1m typically growing in damp soil or beside streams, producing heavily divided leaves and mid-blue flowers similar to those of a Delphinium. It is believed to be native in South West England and south Wales, but very local in distribution. It was indeed not recorded botanically until by Purton in 18211. .  Elsewhere it is likely to be a garden escape and may represent material of hybrid origin as a number of forms and sub-species are grown in gardens2..
 
Monkshood's common name comes from the hooded shape of the flower.  It is also known as wolfsbane and blue helmet.  It is extremely poisonous, fatal if ingested, and you should wash your hands after handling it. It is nonetheless a traditional cottage garden flower and has been grown for many centuries despite its poisonous qualities. In his Herbal of 1597 Gerard commented on its ‘very fair and goodly blew flowers, in shape like an helmet, which are so beautifull that a man woulde think they were of some excellent virtue, but non est semper fides habenda fronti’. (‘Faith is not always to be trusted’)3. .
 
This plant is very easy to grow in a garden border but demands a permanently damp soil and will not thrive in a dry situation.
 
Its deep tubular flowers are an important forage source for long-tongued bumblebees such as Bombus hortorum which in itself is a good reason to grow this plant. Unlike the closely related Delphinium it does not attract slugs and snails.
 
Only one beetle and two moths are recorded as feeding on this toxic plant, including the attractive golden plusia moth Polychrysia moneta which has colonised Britain since 1890 and is now found as far north as Scotland.
 
 
References
 
1. Pearman, D. (2017). The Discovery of the Native Flora of Britain and Ireland, Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. P83
 
2.  Stace, C. 2010.  New Flora of the British Isles, Third Edition. P. 105.
 
3. Gerard, J. 1597. The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes, as quoted in Grigson 1995 p32.
 
4.  See the Biological Record Centre database
 
 
Page written by Marc Carlton.  Compiled by Steve Head
           Garden Wildplants
        Garden Wildplants